Antrihabitans stalactiti gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Nocardiaceae isolated from a cave.

Two Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, non-spore-forming actinobacterial strains, designated YC2-7T and YC5-17, were isolated from the Yongcheondonggul (larva cave) in Jeju, Republic of Korea and their taxonomic ranks were examined by a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene tree showed that the novel isolates occupied an independent position separated from recognized genera of the family Nocardiaceae. In the 92 core gene-based phylogenomic analysis, strain YC2-7T was loosely associated with the type strain of Aldersonia kummingensis with 66.2 % average amino acid identity. The 16S rRNA gene sequence simairity between the isolate and members of the family Nocardiaceae was below 96.7 %. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid as a diagnostic diamino acid. Whole-cell sugars consisted of arabinose, galactose and glucose. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8(H4, ω-cycl). The major polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The cellular fatty acids consisted mainly of saturated and unsaturated components with small amounts of tuberculostearic acid. Mycolic acids of 52-58 carbon atoms were present. The DNA G+C content of the genome was 63.8 mol%. On the basis of combination of morphological and chemotaxonomic differences, in addition to phylogenetic distinctness, the novel isolates are considered to constitute members of a novel species of a new genus in the family Nocardiaceae, for which the name Antrihabitans stalactiti gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YC2-7T (=KACC 19965T=DSM 108733T).

Paenibacillus cavernae sp. nov., isolated from soil of a natural cave.

A Gram-reaction-variable, strictly aerobic, motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain C4-5T, was isolated from soil of a natural cave. Cells were oxidase- and catalase-positive and formed endospores in sporangia. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison showed that the organism formed a distinct clade within the genus Paenibacillus and was most closely related to Paenibacillus contaminans CKOBP-6T ( = KCTC 13623T) (96.85 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) followed by Paenibacillus doosanensis CAU 1005T ( = KCTC 33036T) (94.82 %). The following chemotaxonomic features of strain C4-5T are typical for the genus Paenibacillus: meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone, the major fatty acids of anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0 and the DNA G+C content of 54.8 mol%. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and four unidentified aminophospholipids. The phenotypic and phylogenetic data presented support that strain C4-5T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus cavernae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is C4-5T ( = KCTC 33652T = DSM 100100T).

The relative survival and cure fraction of gastric cancer estimated through flexible parametric models using data from population-based cancer registration during 2003-2012 in Linzhou, China.

PURPOSE: The proportion of cured gastric cancer patients has drawn the attention of patients, physicians, and healthcare providers after comprehensive prevention and control measures were carried out for several years. Therefore, the relative survival and cure fraction were estimated in our study. METHODS: Population-based cancer registration data were used to estimate survival and cure fraction. A total of 7585 gastric cancer cases (ICD10:C16.0 ~ C16.9) were extracted and included in the final analysis. Cases were diagnosed in 2003-2012 and followed until the end of 2017. Relative survival was calculated as the ratio between the observed survival through the life-table method. The expected survival was estimated by the Ederer II method. The cure fraction was estimated using flexible parametric cure models stratified by age and calendar period when the cases were diagnosed. RESULTS: The 5-year relative survival of cardia gastric cancer increased with the calendar period of 2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, and 2011-2012 (27.5%, 28.3%, 33.5%, 38.2%, and 46.8%, respectively). The increasing trend along with the calendar periods was also observed in cure proportion of cardia gastric cancer (24.8%, 25.2%, 31.7%, 36.0%, and 43.1%, respectively). Notable improvement of cure proportion was observed in the period of 2011-2012, compared with the initial period of 2003-2004. There was an improvement of 79.8% among all gastric cancer subjects, and it was 74.1% and 55.7% in cardia gastric and noncardia gastric cancer subjects, respectively. The median survival of "uncured" patients showed no significant improvement along with the calendar periods in all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Notable improvement of gastric cancer relative survival and cure proportion was observed in Linzhou during 2003-2012.

Identification of Headspace Volatile Compounds of Blended Coffee and Application to Principal Component Analysis.

Coffee can be blended to create a variety of products to meet consumer's needs. In order to uncover the blending effect of coffee beans, we performed an experiment using principal component analysis (PCA). Twelve varieties of green beans were tested in 11 experimental groups, and the volatile compounds of the beans were analyzed. A total of 41 volatile compounds were identified. PCA was performed on 13 compounds that had a low odor threshold value or a high concentration among the identified compounds. PCA of total volatile compounds showed that principal component (PC) 1 and PC2 were extracted within 80% cumulative dispersion level. In PC1 and PC2, furfuryl alcohol and formic acid ethyl ester showed the greatest positive correlation coefficients among all the volatile compounds. The largest negative correlation coefficients in PC1 and PC2 were 4-hydroxy-2-butanone and 3-(ethylthio)propanal, respectively. Using PCA of the major volatile compounds in coffee, propanal and 1-methylpyrrole were found to have the largest positive correlation coefficients in PC1 and PC2, respectively. In the score plot of the major volatile components, 4 kinds of blended coffee were closely grouped, therefore showing similar aroma qualities. However, 5 kinds of other blended coffees showed a positive correlation with PC2. This is probably due to 3-(ethylthio)propanal acting as a specific value. The application of statistical methods to blended coffee allows for logical and systematic data analysis of data and may be used as a basis for quality evaluation.

Chemical Characterization and Oxidative Stability of Medium- and Long-Chain Fatty Acid Profiles in Tree-Borne Seed Oils.

This study was undertaken to evaluate chemical characteristics and oxidative stability of tree-borne seed oils. A total of 15 different fatty acids were identified in six tree-borne seed oils, which included seven types of saturated fatty acids, four types of monounsaturated fatty acids, and four types of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Japanese camphor tree (JCT) had a high content of medium-chain fatty acids (97.94 ± 0.04%), in which fatty acid composition was distinct from those of the other five plant seed oils. Overall, contents of tocopherols, a type of fat-soluble vitamin, ranged between 3.82 ± 0.04 mg/100 g and 101.98 ± 1.34 mg/100 g, respectively. Phytosterol contents ranged from 117.77 ± 1.32 mg/100 g to 479.45 ± 4.27 mg/100 g, respectively. Of all tree-borne seed oils, ß-sitosterol was the phytosterol at the highest concentration. Contents of unsaponifiables were between 0.13 ± 0.08 and 2.01 ± 0.02, and values of acid, peroxide, and p-anisidine were between 0.79 ± 0.01 and 38.94 ± 0.24 mg KOH/g, 3.53 ± 0.21 and 127.67 ± 1.79 meq/kg, and 2.07 ± 0.51 and 9.67 ± 0.25, respectively. Oxidative stability of tree-borne seed oils was assessed through measurement of oxidation-induction periods. These results should serve as a foundation to identify the potential of tree-borne seed oils in industrial application as well as in providing fundamental data.

Optimization of Maillard Reaction between Glucosamine and Other Precursors by Measuring Browning with a Spectrophotometer.

The individual Maillard reactions of glucose, glucosamine, cyclohexylamine, and benzylamine were studied at a fixed temperature of 120°C under different durations by monitoring the absorbance of the final products at 425 nm. Glucosamine was the most individually reactive compound, whereas the reactions of glucose, cyclohexylamine, and benzylamine were not significantly different from each other. Maillard reactions of reaction mixtures consisting of glucosamine-cyclohexylamine, glucosamine-benzylamine, glucose-cyclohexylamine, and glucose-benzylamine were also studied using different concentration ratios under different durations at a fixed temperature of 120°C and pH 9. Maillard reactions in the pairs involving glucosamine were observed to be more intense than those of the pairs involving glucose. Finally, with respect to the concentration ratios, it was observed that in most instances, optimal activity was realized, when the reaction mixtures were in the ratio of 1:1.

Bioflocculant Produced by Aspergillus sp. JS-42.

A bioflocculant from a fungus, Aspergillus sp. JS-42, was purified by precipitations with acetone and cetylpyridinium chloride. The flocculating activity was not significantly affected by pH from 3 to 8, but was stimulated by the addition of CaCl2, and was effective only when the reaction mixture contained an adequate amount of flocculant. The flocculant could efficiently flocculate all tested solids suspended in aqueous solution, including various microorganisms, organic acids, and inorganic materials.